THE SPRINTERS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 93, 14 January 1936, Page 15

THE SPRINTERS

Telegraph Prospects NOTES AND COMMENTS Gay Broney for Trentham

(By

The Watcher.)

The handicap for the Telegraph Handicap at Wellington indicates that Silver Streak is regarded as dangerous. The last time he met Knockfin was on the last day at the New Zealand Cup meeting, when he won by a head from Half Note, with Bon Tray another head away, and Knockfin unplaced. Knockfin had 9.0 and Silver Streak 5.9, while Bon Tray had 7.13. In the meantime Silver Streak has run well at Auckland and finished second on the last day, carrying 8.12. He cannot complain of 8.10 at Trentham, but Knockfin, a winner since the weights, meets him 51b. better, and Bon Tray 61b. better.

Good Prospect. Bon Tray was a winner here on the first day last October with lib. more up than he has this month, while Silver Streak was third to him with 31b. less tliau he now has. Bon Tray on his best form is not badly handicapped at Wellington. She is Duo.

Variant divided Bon Tray and Silver Streak here in October, carrying 7.6, and she was third on the second day with 7.11. Variant was fourth in the last race at the New Zealand Cup meeting with 7.11. Bon Tray has beaten her each time they have met except in the Stewards’ Handicap, in which Variant was again fourth, and Bon Tray, giving her 71b., ran unplaced. Third or fourth is the best that Variant appears able to accomplish, but she is due. On Wellington spring and New Zealand Cup meeting form Bon Tray should be a hard horse for Silver Streak, Variant, and Knockfin here.

Good When Right. Rebel Chief’s form on the West Coast indicates that he has come right again, and if he is produced here in anything like condition he would be one of the favourites. He was far from himself at the New Zealand Cup fixture, but at his best be is good class.

Be«t Last Year. Manawatu form was the best in the event last year with Wheriko and Autopay beating Silver Streak, and this year there are Acceptable and Invoice with Manawatu winning form. Both should be capable under tfi?Tr light weights of setting a solid pace, and lasting the distance.

The Topweight. The field has somewhat of a tail, but it is strong near the top of the handicap. Silver Bing, of course, is by no means to be left out oi it with 9.13. a weight he has successfully carried at Trentham over seven, but it is presumed that he will start in the Cup. Something definite regarding his plans may be obtained when acceptances close to-night.

Children Not Admitted. The Wellington Racing Club has decided not to admit children under twelve

years of age to the lawn enclosure for the forthcoming meeting.

Gay Broney Coming. The Auckland-trained Guy Broney was not entered for events at the Takapuna meeting, it being the intention of his connections to race him at the Wellington meeting.

Engaged Here. The Greymouth winner, Wine Card, is among those engaged in the two-year-old event on the first day of the Wellington meeting.

Sweet Agnes. The Christchurch critics who saw .Sweet Agnes racing on the West Coast think that she will be in good shape for her Wellington engagements.

Kinnoull. Kinnoun is trained at Washdyke, so the following comment by a Timaru critic on his Wellington Cup weight is interesting:—“Kinnoull was one of the problems facing the handicapper. Only one three-year-old has won the race in the 30 years it has been run at Trentham, and it took a good one like Rapine to do it with only 7.12. On that basis KiunouU's 8.5 looks excessive, lint in the Canterbury Cup Kinnoull 7.10) defeated Cuddle 9.0 by three lengths, and in the Wellington Cup he comes in on 211 b. better terms. Cuddle no doubt has improved since then, but according to the w.f.a. chart the colt should have improved 51b. since November, ana Cuudle’s rise from 9.0 to 9.11 is much more severe than Kinnoull's from 7.10) to 8.5. Unless Cuddle' is a much better mare uow than she was at Riccarton it seems that she must rely on altered track conuitions if she is to beat the Washdyke colt if he goes to the post. If he starts, Kinnoull’s difficulty will be to give a lot of weight to useful older horses.”

The Best Youngster. Gallio is now being claimed as the best two-year-old of the season, but it maybe a bit early to bold a positive opinion, as several months of racing are still on the calendar, states “Sentinel" in the "Otago Daily Times.” It is quite possible that some of the youngsters that raced at the Auckland Cun meeting may not race so well on a right-hand course as nt Trentham or Riccarton. In fact, such an abrupt change in travelling may result in a complete reversal of form.

Impersonating I’har Lap. The American movie star, Helen Twelvetrees, is in Australia in connection with a film to be called ‘'Thoroughbred.” I’har Lap is introduced, and it was proposed that he should be impersonby Teter Pan. After Peter's failure at Flemington he was turned out in Victoria, and the horse now playing the Pliar Lap role is the New Zealander Antique. New Zealand Gelding Injured. News has been received in Invercargill from Melbourne that the New Zealandbred First Song met with a mishap which may cause his destruction. It appears that shortly after his win at the Yarra Glen meeting, the son of Songbird and First Hope broke a bone in a fetlock. His best performance was his success in the Riverton Cup of April last, and his owner, Mr. D. Jones, was unfortunate in not doing better with a useful galloper in Victoria. First Song struck trouble on several occasions after landing in Victoria.

Illegal Betting in France. A change in the gaming laws has been made in France lately, providing for

severe penalties against illegal betting. All persons who habitually place or receive illegal bets on horse races, or are connected therewith as intermediaries, are subject to two to six months' imprisonment and a line of 1000 to 10,000 francs. The text of the law involves not only those connected directly with the bets, but also persons selling information of such bets in France or abroad, as well as owners and managers of public establishments where such bets take place. In addition to the penal fine, which will not be less than 1000 francs in each case proved., a fiscal fine will be claimed in the proportion in which normal beneficiaries of legal pari mutiicl betting will have been, or might have been, frustrated. In qrder to secure full collaboration not only of police and fiscal officials, but of other persons likely to serve as means of discovering illegal bets, rewards reaching a maximum of 25 per cent. of the lines, stakes seized, and other confiscations ordered by law. will' be allowed them. Wellington Acceptances. Acceptances for the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting wilFclose to-night at 8 o’clock. Ashhurst Acceptances. Acceptances for the annual meeting of the Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club on Anniversary Day will close to-morrow night at 9 o’clock. The telegraph office at Ashhurst closes at 8 o'clock. Answers to Correspondents. "N.C.,” Paraparaumu. —£3/6/-. Inquirers re West Coast results are advised that cards are not yet to hand.